Back To The 80s: President's Doted Wife Chapter 1604 - 1605: Old Qi Has an Epiphany

Ning Ge observed Qi Taiguo, noting with surprise how much he had changed, now willing to leverage connections for advancement. Previously, Qi Taiguo had always relied solely on his own efforts, scaling heights through sheer perseverance. Even with allies like Ning Ge and Ning Gang, he had never once sought a favor. This marked the first time he desired to use his relationships to alter his circumstances. Had Qi Taiguo finally bowed to the ways of the world?

"I always believed your pride would prevent this, that you'd never stoop to asking for such a thing," Ning Ge remarked.

Qi Taiguo procured a cigarette, extended one to Ning Ge, lit his own, and stated, "In the past, I scorned this practice, believing self-reliance was supreme. However, over the years, much has transpired, and I've come to realize that for a common soldier like myself, reaching the pinnacle is an almost insurmountable feat. One either requires the backing of a spouse's family, like Jiang Conghe, or must skillfully navigate using connections..."

"The times are shifting, and people are adapting. If I aspire to power and wish to ascend incrementally, how many years would that truly consume? In any conflict, the direst situation is facing a formidable adversary with meager strength. Now, I have your sister-in-law and Xiao Qi to consider. I must safeguard them and plan for their future. As for pride..." Qi Taiguo let out a laugh. "Can it fill our stomachs? Can it shield my loved ones?"

Having endured loss, witnessed death, and experienced betrayal, Qi Taiguo had come to grasp life's fleeting nature, inevitably embracing a more common perspective.

If being ordinary meant ensuring a comfortable life for those he cherished, what harm lay in it?

To live well, to forge a life on his own terms, required unwavering effort and sacrifice.

With connections now at his disposal, why wouldn't he employ them to bypass unnecessary obstacles? What was the value in clinging to fleeting self-importance?

"I cannot promise extraordinary results, but within my capacity, I shall exert every effort to honor the family's trust and Chief Ning's guidance," Qi Taiguo assured Ning Ge once more.

"You've truly attained wisdom!" Ning Ge took a puff of his cigarette and added, "This is how you should have conducted yourself from the start."

He wasn't naive. In this era, could anyone truly stand apart from the intricate network of relationships? Consider his current enterprise; it had thrived only through countless connections, innumerable relationships, and the artful manipulation of strings. Would the company have even launched without such a complex web of affiliations? It was a preposterous notion!

Commencing from nothing was achievable, but it demanded both shrewd maneuvering and established relationships.

Whether one acknowledged it or not, the reality was stark and unyielding. This was an epoch defined by connections and influence. To forgo their utilization wasn't a display of pride, but rather profound foolishness.

Having influential allies smoothed the path forward—a truth that had resonated through the ages.

Qi Taiguo chuckled softly. "Young men often mistake their arrogance for pride, believing they transcend the need for external support. Yet, in truth, even if I am elevated by others, as long as I perform admirably, what fundamental difference exists between rising independently and being lifted by supportive hands?"

The crux lay in maintaining one's integrity from inception to completion!

Back then, I declared my disdain for those with advantages, but wasn't a subtle undercurrent of insecurity and resentment churning within me?

"If you secure a position, are you not concerned about potential relocation?" Ning Ge inquired, voicing a concern, "Xiao Qi is still quite young."

If he were to depart, the responsibility at home would truly fall upon no one.

A flicker of apprehension crossed Qi Taiguo's gaze. "If I lack the capacity to protect them, what purpose does my presence serve? My sole hope is that his future journey unfolds with greater ease."

Ning Ge fell into a contemplative silence, then after a moment, stated, "Very well, I shall discuss this matter with my elder brother."

Qi Taiguo inclined his head in acknowledgment.